Alcohol and the Aging Senior
Copyright 2006 Mary Desaulniers
It is New Year's Eve. You have one drink, then another, then a
third. You used to be able to chug down 6 drinks without
consequences. But lately, you've noticed that things are a bit
different. Before dinner is over, you are wobbly; your speech
slurs. Before the night is over, you are spread out on the floor.
You've only had 3 drinks. What happened?
Research shows alcohol has a much stronger effect in the senior
population than in younger people. As you age, you absorb
alcohol more readily. So what used to be standard
twentysomething fare is way too much for you now.
There are reasons for this change.
1.Your body's ratio of water to fat decreases as you age; so
there's less water to dilute the alcohol.
2.Your aging body does not metabolize alcohol as easily as it
did in your youth; your body produces less liver enzymes that
help break down alcohol.
3.If you are on prescription or over-the-counter medication,
alcohol can compound the risk of collapse and falls; in fact,
alcohol can produce an impaired effect with about half of the
100 drugs used frequently by seniors.
4.The aging body has more body fat which does not absorb alcohol.
Changes in body chemistry that accompany the aging process can
certainly be seen as one factor to explain the prevalence of
alcoholism in seniors. The AMA estimates that about 3 million
Americans over the age of 60 have a drinking problem. At least
10 percent of patients who go to an emergency room with alcohol
related problems are over 60 years of age. As much as 20 percent
of elderly patients( 55 and older) in emergency rooms exhibit
symptoms of alcoholism. And in many nursing homes, the problem
of drinking is even more acute--as high as 49 percent in some
studies.
In fact, researchers feel that these statistics are much lower
than what they are in reality. Because alcohol problems in the
senior population are usually mistaken for other conditions
associated with the aging process, very often, alcohol abuse and
alcoholism in the senior population may go undiagnosed and
untreated.
Yet studies have also shown that moderate drinking confers
benefits to the aging population. Alcohol consumed in moderate
amounts can raise HDL levels of the so -called "good"
cholesterol; it can also prevent blood clots, heart attacks and
ischemic strokes. Studies have demonstrated that men who drink
one alcoholic beverage a day have a significantly lower risk of
death compared with those who rarely or never drink. A French
study completed in 2002 also shows that moderate drinking can
lower the incidence of dementia in the aging population.
Despite these benefits, the dangers of alcohol are considerable.
The incidents of driving problems are high in the elderly
population. Any potential benefit of alcohol is more than
cancelled by the dangers in alcohol -related diseases such as
addictive alcoholism, cirrhosis of the liver, high blood
pressure and depression. Alcohol has also been shown to produce
deficits in intellectual and behavior functioning. It may
accelerate normal aging or cause premature aging of the brain.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging techniques have shown more extensive
brain tissue loss in subjects with alcoholism than in those
without alcoholism. And research also shows that shrinkage of
the frontal lobe increases with the consumption of alcohol.
So what can seniors do to understand their own threshold of
alcohol consumption?
Here are a few guidelines:
1 .If you don't drink, don't start. The risks far outweigh the
benefits.
2 .If you do drink, limit yourself to one drink a day ( 4-5
drinks over the course of a week).
3. Do not engage in binge drinking which can bring about
irregular heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, increased risk for
heart disease and strokes.
4. If you are on medication, do not drink at all. Even over the
counter drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin or tylenol, when taken
with alcohol, can damage stomach lining and cause liver
problems. Alcohol, taken with antihistamines, is known to
increase drowsiness and can lead to impaired driving or
accidents.
5. If you feel you have a drinking problem, consult your
physician and be proactive about getting treatment options. Call
your local chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous or Rational Recovery
for help.